[HPFGU-OTChatter] Reading, Writing, and Multiple Choice

[Richelle Votaw]

bboy_mn wrote:

> We live in the age of 'multiple choice'. When was the last time any
> kid actually had to write anything? One of the ways to improve your
> writing is to write. The more you do it, assume you are actually
> interested in getting better, the better you get. 
> 
> To what extent are kids required to write in the US educational system
> today?

More all the time. In Louisiana, in order to pass fourth grade (9 and 10 year olds) students must pass the LEAP test. No multiple choice, all written response.  It is graded out of state by a team of judges.  If a student does not pass both the Reading and Math portion of the test, they are given the chance to retake the test over the summer.  If they still do not pass, they must repeat fourth grade the next year.  The same thing happens again in 8th grade.  Over the next year or two, they are planning to change the testing format for the other grades, beginning at 3rd grade, to an all written response test.

As for my first graders, a portion of their Unit test in Language is all written response.  Worth 1/3 of the total test, so without it you can't pass the Unit test.  Nice thing about written response is there is partial credit.  And they're forced to think. No such thing for multiple choice.

Richelle


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